How Conor McGregor went from star striker to being MMA champion

It's a long way from playing men's soccer in front of one man and his dog to fighting mixed martial arts (MMA) in Las Vegas' MGM Grand.

However, that is the journey Conor McGregor has made from football striker to UFC star. And it seems he was as lethal in front of the goal posts as he is in his current discipline.

McGregor played football for Yellowstone Celtic and David Glennon says their former pitch in Brickfield Park, Drimnagh is a far cry from Vegas.

"I'd say most weeks we'd have had about five people, a dog and a man with an umbrella at our matches," David told the Herald.

"He was a pretty good player for us and if I remember correctly he got top scorer for us one of the years, for our Saturday side," he added.

McGregor played for Yellowstone, now known as Stanaway Celtic, in 2010 and 2011.

"He was always a bit more interested in MMA, but he would have certainly been one of the fittest on the team.

"I think he played for a year, maybe two, just before we broke up the Saturday side. The first year he was generally down with us all year, but in the second, you'd be lucky to get him in once a week, because he got more into the MMA," said David.

"We told the players the situation, but that we still wanted to play him, and they all took it well, because I think they knew Conor was one of the better players on the team," he said.

David, now managing Stanaway Celtic in the Leinster Senior League, told the Herald that McGregor would be welcomed back in the future.

"I don't think he'd have much interest in coming back, but if he was up for it, we'd have him back for sure."

The Leinster Senior League side play their games in Stanaway Park with David now in charge of the first team.

However, David insists that the name change is only temporary and that they'll be back to the Yellowstone Celtic that McGregor once togged out for this season.